Augusta rarely fails to serve up drama and magic. Here’s a look back at some of the greatest Masters moments since The Golden Bear roared one final time…
The Greatest Masters Moments Of The Last 30 years
Augusta National and The Masters rarely fails to serve up drama and magic. Here’s a look back at some of the greatest Masters moments since The Golden Bear roared one final time…
1986 – Jack Nicklaus’ final hurrah
The Golden Bear was apparently washed up, finished. Then he played the back nine on Sunday in 30 strokes holing putt after putt to claim Green Jacket no. 6 at 46 years of age.
The Golden Bear on the Major prowl for one last time in 1986
Related: 10 greatest Masters shots
1987 – Local boy Larry breaks Norman’s heart
Greg Norman could have and should have already had a Green Jacket in his wardrobe before Larry Mize broke his heart with his outrageous play-off chip-in on the 11th.
Wonder if Greg Norman has ever forgiven Larry Mize?
1988 – Sandy’s 7-iron
In sand off the tee on 18 needing birdie to win, Sandy struck the crispest of 7-irons before coaxing the putt in down the hill. We’ll even forgive him the awkward dance.
Okay, Sandy, we’ll even forgive you the little dance…
1989 – Faldo triumphs as Hoch chokes
Sir Nick had given it his best effort but had come up short as Scott Hoch faced a simple tap-in on the first play-off hole to win… except, of course, Hoch somehow missed and Faldo went on to beat him on the next hole.
Nick Faldo lands another one for the Brits in 1989
Related: The history of the Green Jacket
1990 – It’s Faldo again
Only Jack Nicklaus had ever successfully defended the title until Faldo forced his way into a play-off with a closing 69 before watching Ray Floyd hook it into the water on the second play-off hole to hand him his second Green Jacket.
The look on Ray Floyd’s face says it all as Faldo successfully defends
Related: David Cannon: My best Masters pictures
1991 – Woosie’s turn
Incredibly, Woosie kept the jacket in British hands, holing a brave eight-footer on the last before nearly being crushed to death by caddie Wobbly in the ensuing celebrations.
Woosie while he still had full use of all limbs before the big caddie crush
1992 – Fred Couples befriends the 12th hole
It’s common knowledge that all balls landing on the bank short of the 12th green roll back into Rae’s Creek. Fred Couples ball confounded that theory on Sunday.
The 12th holes finds a friend for life in Fred Couples
1995 – Gentle Ben gets all emotional
Inspired by longtime coach, Harvey Penick’s, funeral just days before, Crenshaw suddenly remembered how to play and went on to claim his second Green Jacket.
It all gets a little too much for Gentle Ben in 1995
Related: Top 5 Masters water disasters
1996 – Faldo yet again but more heartache for Norman
Two men with very different feeling towards the 1996 Masters
1997 – Tiger introduces himself to the world
We’d all been told Tiger was going to be quite good when he turned pro in 1996. In the following year’s Masters we got the first inkling of just how good as he demolished the field by a full 12 strokes.
Job done: Tiger demolishes the field by 12 strokes in 1997
1999 – Ollie completes the comeback
From not being able to walk, let alone play golf a year earlier, to a second Green Jacket, Ollie’s heartwarming 1999 victory is one of golf’s greatest ever comeback tales.
Olazabal celebrates his comeback win with compatriot Sergio
2004 – Finally it’s Phil’s turn
Major bridesmaid Phil finally got across the line despite Ernie Els firing two final-round eagles at him to set the clubhouse target. With a play-off looming, Phil coaxed a 20-footer in on 18 for his first Major, apparently with a little assistance from on high courtesy of his late grandfather.
Thanks Granddad! Phil celebrates his final putt that never looked like dropping until it dropped
2005 – ‘That chip’ from Tiger Woods
The only thing that went wrong on 16 for Tiger was the terrible missed high-five with Stevie
2011 – Charl closes it out in style
If you’re going to win, do it in style. Charl did just that, closing things out with four straight birdies to pinch the title from under the noses of Aussie pair, Adam Scott and Jason Day.
Four birdies to finish – that will do nicely for Charl
2012 – Louis’ albatross and Bubba’s banana shot
When you hole your second shot for an albatross two to take the lead early in the final round as Oosthuizen did, you might just be forgiven for thinking it’s going to be your day. Bubba had other ideas, winning in a play-off thanks to his amazing banana wedge shot from the trees to the right of the 10th fairway.
Bend it like Bubba – just a 45-yard hook from 160 yards with a gap wedge
2013 – Scott lays the Lytham ghosts to rest
Just nine months after handing the Open to Ernie Els with four closing bogeys at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Adam Scott put things right with a winning putt on the second hole of a play-off with 2009 champion, Angel Cabrera.
Stevie moves in for another Masters high-five with 2013 champion, Adam Scott
2016 – Danny becomes first Englishman since Faldo to win after Spieth’s collapse
Willett closed out The Masters like a true champion, firing a bogey-free round of 67
Jordan Spieth closed out the front nine on Sunday with four birdies to take a commanding lead in to the back nine, but nobody could predict what was going to happen from there on in. Spieth started the back nine bogey-bogey before stepping onto the 12th tee and finding Rae’s creek not once, but twice! He carded a seven and Sheffield’s Danny Willett overtook him with birdies on three of his final six holes to become the first Englishman in over 20 years to win a Green Jacket.
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